Fed: Family First thinks its preferences could determine poll

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2004
Fed: Family First thinks its preferences could determine poll

By Peter Jean

CANBERRA, Aug 31 AAP - The tiny Family First Party believes its preferences may determine
the outcome of the federal election.

Family First, which holds one seat in the South Australian parliament, is running candidates
for all federal seats in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria for the
first time at this election.

The party supports policies it says support and protect families and is opposed to
gay marriage and the decriminalisation of drugs.

Family First federal president and South Australian Senate candidate Andrea Mason said
the party would allocate preferences on a seat-by-seat basis.

"What we're doing is looking at candidates, we're looking at I guess their values and
their stands on the issues that are important to us as a party," Ms Mason said.

"In the last (South Australian) state election we directed preferences to both sides
and in fact with three state electorates we actually determined the successful candidate
which shows our influence."

Prime Minister John Howard today said he supported the concept of a Family First party.

"I don't pretend to know all the details of all their policies but certainly the concept
of a Family First Party is one that I support, but once again may I say that is not something
that is not the monopoly of that particular group," Mr Howard told Brisbane radio 4BC.

AAP pj/sw/drp/jlw

KEYWORD: POLL04 FAMILY

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